LIVE Art Lessons

About Suzanne, Your Art Instructor:

While I've enjoyed teaching online, there's nothing quite like the buzz of in-person classes. That's why I've transformed my home into an art oasis (it already was, tbh), where small groups of budding artists can let their creativity run wild. After years of teaching online, at schools and even in my giant studio (when I lived in Utah), I've discovered that kids and teens thrive in a cozy, homey setting.

No stuffy or overly airy studios here—just good friends and great art!

I'm Suzanne Hanks, your art instructor and the creative brain behind bringarthome.com. For the past decade, I've been on a mission to bring the magic of art right to your screens, offering families and schools around the globe a front-row seat to the wonderful world of creativity. If you haven't already, take a whirl around my digital art haven and soak in all the colorful goodness! (Don't mind the 2010's hair-do's!)

As an artist, I find my preferred type of media changes, but right now I am preferring watercolor and ink. I used to only work with Acrylics and sometimes Oil paint. Almost always, I tend toward portraits and botanicals, but I am open minded.

I'm also a trained Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach. I specialize in helping those who get stuck in the comparison, procrastination, and perfectionism trap.

Do you have a child like that?

Together, we'll break free and let those creative juices flow!

So, whether you're a mini Monet or a teenage da Vinci, come on over and let's take some art time together. It's time to paint, draw, and create up a storm in the most welcoming art space around. Can't wait to see you in class!

Littles Art Class Content:

In our delightful Little's Art Class, we'll have so much fun exploring the world of art together! We'll play, spark new ideas, and study art in a joyful and nurturing environment.
We'll also get to build wonderful relationships with each other with the art-making process.
During our time together, we'll have the chance to observe and connect with famous and not-so-famous artworks,
play art games, and
work on lots of open-ended art projects.
Plus, we'll learn important foundational art skills like observation and the creative process.
It's a special time for us to learn how to collaborate, stay curious, and feel confident and safe in the world of art.

In our wonderful Love of Learning Art Class, my goal is to spark a love for art that will inspire further learning, especially in their own homes.
Your students special opportunity for children to teach and share something they're passionate about in their art making.
I'll also encourage the beginning of a "practice" of art, where children can work on personal projects and share them with each other in a supportive environment.
We'll focus on observation, the creative process, and developing a growth mindset. It's a time for joyful art practice and nurturing a love for creativity and learning.
- Throughout the class, your students will be exposed to great art and have the chance to try out a wide variety of art media.

In our advanced youth art class, Youth tend to come to class with their own personal goals in mind. Using the mentoring model, I encourage them with their goals, this is exactly how this class is structured.
We will go in depth into each individual students' needs while learning the skills, habits, and knowledge one needs to get them to their next step.
Personal Projects and Practice: Students are required to have a personal project and are encouraged to develop a consistent art practice.
Your student will be invited to connect with me through Marco Polo or texting so I can give guidance or feedback as they work through their personal projects.
Project-based Learning: I believe that students learn best when they are interested in a topic or project. Therefore, we focus on project-based learning, where students work on projects that naturally integrate the learning of the necessary skills and honing of abilities, allowing them to apply their knowledge right away.
In-Depth Instruction: Our approach involves going in-depth into art, particularly focusing on teaching realistic drawing and painting skills through observation and references.
Expressive Exercises: While we spend most of our time in honing drawing and painting skills, we do plenty of exploratory and expressive exercises to foster an open mind and imaginative expression. This approach is designed to keep the art practice joyful, with a strong emphasis on a growth mindset rather than perfectionism.

How do I know this is not a good fit for my child?

1. Your child is being "made" to come. It is not in their realm of interest.

2. You, as the parent, feel it is important to have a perfect, finished project to show that they are doing a good job and that the classes are worth it.

(This is a common and normal feeling, and it is okay. I just work on connection and customization as a priority. That, and it can be pretty tough to get anything out of a canned art project for a parents approval. We'll make those as gifts during Christmas time though!!)

FULL

Ages 11+

WEDNESDAYS - 2 pm - 3:15 pm

May 9, 16, 23, & 30

All art material will be supplied.

Pencil, pen, and watercolors will be used.

Learn to draw the figure by exploring proportion, form, gesture, and composition. Study portraiture while Master artists (Modern and Renaissance) as guides.

Study the proper methods to render the realistic facial likeness.

You will also get a primer on keeping a sketchbook and "catching" people around you.

We will study the clothed human form as we learn and study.

All weekly lessons will be taught in person in Gilbert, AZ. Crossroads Recker and Guadalupe.

FULL

Ages 6 - 10

WEDNESDAYS - 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm

May 9, 16, 23, & 30

All art materials will be supplied.

Pencil, pen, watercolor, tempera paint, and more...

Week 1: Ancient Art - Egyptian, Aboriginal

Week 2: Greek and Roman Art

Week 3: Art of the Middle Ages

Week 4: Renaissance - Michelangelo and DaVinci

Week 5: Picasso to Graffiti

Your child will be using a wide variety of media, such as watercolors, clay, ink, pencil, colored pencils, etc...

We will time travel to the different parts of the world, discovering and emulating the story of art through the lens of history.

I am so excited to teach this class, I am excited about this adventure! I love teaching the younger ages because we get to really get our hands dirty, be inventive, use our imagination and use "story" as a medium for teaching.

FULL

Ages 6-10

JUNE 4 - 6th 9:00am - 12:30pm

All art material will be supplied.

Pencil, pen, and watercolor, sculptey clay, tempera paint, paper mache, food, and more...

This is a rough & tumble art camp with some globie paintballs to make abstract art, make paper mache masks, work with sculptey clay to make useful objects, tattoo a banana, make a map and so much more over 3 - half days with 10.5 hours of art making!

Your explorer will come home daily with home-made gifts, new skills, art masterpieces and ideas for spying, creating and building.

FULL

Ages 6 - 10

JUNE 4 - 6th 1:30 pm - 5:00 pm

All art materials will be supplied.

Pencil, pen, watercolor, tempera paint, paper mache, and so more...

The sweetest art camp you ever knew. We will have a "sweet" theme while we work with sculptey clay, make fabric doily bowls, paint flowers, make a diorama, paint on cookie frosting, draw, paint and so much more over this 3 - half days with 10.5 hours of art making!

Your sweeties will come home daily with home-made gifts, art masterpieces, new art skills and an excitement to make and create beauty all around.

FULL

Ages 12+

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27th 1 -5 pm

All art materials will be supplied

We will work with pencil, watercolor pencils, ink, and watercolors.

Learn how to draw/paint the different fashions. You can use this skill in catching people on the street to draw or to design your own clothes. You will get some mini-lessons in shading and proportions to fill any gaps. We will discuss and use different techniques with pencil, ink, and watercolors.

You will go home with a small portfolio of your favorite fashion designs and a know how to make your own.

FULL

Ages 6 - 10

JULY 9 - 11TH - 9am - 12:30pm

All art materials will be supplied.

A healthy snack will be included.

In my opinion, Storybook art is the best! It is art telling a story.

The storybook art of yesteryear is incredibly inspiring, as is some more modern storytelling illustration. Andrew Wyeth, Maurice Sendak, James Gurney, Charley Harper, Beatrix Potter, Freya Blackwood and more...

In this camp, your student will hear stories from these great art storytellers, learn their "secrets" and draw/paint just like them.

This camp will be full of music, stories, some dramatic play and, of course, drawing and painting. Your student will come home with 2 art pieces a day and many stories to tell.

Rescheduled

Ages 11+

JULY 9 - 11TH - 1:30 pm - 5 pm

All art materials will be supplied.

We will use pencil, paper, ink, and watercolors.

A healthy snack will be included.

To be able to stand in the midst of streets, tall buildings and people going everywhere can be overwhelming. In this camp, your student will learn how to do exactly that!

We will cover architecture, 1pt, 2pt, and 3 pt perspective, a primer in sketching people in action on the streets and more.

Unfortunately, due to the hot Arizona weather, we will not be going on site. I will schedule an Urban Sketching Experience in October.

We will also discuss what materials would be important to have on hand and different ways artists carry their art supplies.

"Make a Mess at My House" - I accidentally said once, & it stuck!

Wednesdays

Free Access

All About the Art Classes:

BEGINNING ART CLASSES

"Little Art Studio"

INTERMEDIATE ART CLASSES

"Art Explorers"

ADVANCED ART CLASSES

"Art Studio 101"

FAQ's

How do I know this is a good fit for my child?

What does the mentor model look like in the younger classes?

How do I know this is not a good fit for my child?

How can I pay?

{Past Classes} May

STRIKE-A-POSE:

Figure & Portrait Drawing for Teens

TIME TRAVELERS:

Art Lessons

Through The Ages

{Past Camps} June

ADVENTURE ART CAMP:

SWEET T{ARTS} CAMP:

FASHION ART WORKSHOP:

{Past Camps} July

STORYBOOK ART CAMP:

Art Telling A Story

URBAN SKETCHER CAMP: July - Sketching The City-

Architecture and Perspective in Your Sketchbook

HANDICRAFTS CAMP:

Intro to Knitting, Crochet, Sculptey Art, Handlettering and Breadmaking

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